- Malabar Coast
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/mal"euh bahr'/a region along the entire SW coast of India, extending from the Arabian Sea inland to the Western Ghats. Also called Malabar.
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Region, southwestern coast of India, stretching from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea.It now includes most of Kerala state and the coastal region of Karnataka state. It has sometimes been used to refer to the entire western coast of peninsular India. A large part of it was within the ancient kingdom of Keralaputra. The Portuguese established trading posts there; they were followed by the Dutch in the 17th century and the French in the 18th century. The British gained control of the region in the late 18th century.* * *
name long applied to the southern part of India's western coast, approximately from the state of Goa southward, which is bordered on the east by the Western Ghats range. The name has sometimes encompassed the entire western coast of peninsular India. It now includes most of Kerala state and the coastal region of Karnataka (Karnātaka) state. The coast consists of a continuous belt of sand dunes. Behind this are many lagoons paralleling the coast and linked by canals to form inland waterways, much used by small boats. Inland is level alluvial land, well watered by streams flowing down from the Western Ghats. Rice and spices are the principal crops, with coconut palms on the coastal sand dunes. Fishing is also important. Kochi (Kōchi) (Cochin) is the main port.A large part of the Malabar Coast fell within the ancient kingdom of Keralaputra (Chera dynasty). The Portuguese established several trading posts there and were followed by the Dutch in the 17th century and the French in the 18th. The British gained control of the region in the late 18th century.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
